Our First Release: r millis "re-forms"

Alterity 101 is pleased to announce the release date of our first cassette. Alterity 1 will be "re-forms" by r millis. Things have been pretty quiet on this page primarily because we have been working on this release. Scheduled for release on July 1, "re-forms" will be a high-quality cassette in a limited edition of 300 copies on screen printed red cassette shells. 

r millis aka Robert Millis may be familiar to you from his work with Climax Golden Twins, Sublime Frequencies and Dust To Digital, among others. Filmaker, writer, improvisor, singer and musician, Rob's activities are multiform. Asked by Alterity 101 to say a few words about "re-forms" he responded thusly...
  
"One sheet? website? I don't know. I generally prefer a little mystery, prefer letting the music speak for its little self, but you have to sell the damn thing so I bow to you superior knowledge.

here you go:

I am generally my own worst scavenger. Compositions get re-worked and recycled with alarming frequency. "AK Duet" was put together from various officially released Climax Golden and r millis solo sources (exactly which ones would be telling) for choreography by Aiko Kinoshita for a dance piece entitled "Little Hungers" that premiered in Seattle in 2011. "Murung Field Wreck" is a series of field recordings made in various Asian locations remixed with a piece that will appear or already has appeared (depending on which universe you are in) on an r millis solo LP called "Relief" on the Helen Scarsdale label. "Orchlabreapourmoi" is a mix of several unmentionable Climax, stolen and solo sources. "Drift Away" was composed for a short film by Jean Julien Pous called…Drift Away. This is a slight re-working of the original composition. Most of these pieces were created for use in live performances. So there you go. Happier that you know this information? That the mysteries have been revealed?"

And there you have it. Ambient, abstract, haunting, beautiful: "re-forms" is an incredible set of soundscapes that demonstrate Millis's sophistication and grace as a composer. We love this guy. We think you will too...

r millis "re-forms" (alterity 1) available here, July1, 2013. $7.00 retail, $10.00 mailorder. Hit us up... 

     

Alterity 101 Will be on Hollow Earth Radio Tonight

http://hollowearthradio.org/blog_posts/202-Kurt-Alterity-to-debut-experimental-sound-art-from-his-new-label-Alterity-101-

Hey folks! I've scored a righteous showcase of new works soon to be released on experimental cassette label 'Alterity 101'.

Curated by the infamous Kurt Alterity, we'll be hearing works from the upcoming first releases by R Millis (Climax Golden Twins & Sublime Frequencies)!

From Rob: "I am generally my own worst scavenger. Compositions get re-worked and recycled with alarming frequency. "AK Duet" was put together from various officially released Climax Golden and r millis solo sources (exactly which ones would be telling) for choreography by Aiko Kinoshita for a dance piece entitled "Little Hungers" that premiered in Seattle in 2011. "Murung Field Wreck" is a series of field recordings made in various Asian locations remixed with a piece that will appear or already has appeared (depending on which universe you are in) on an r millis solo LP called "Relief" on the Helen Scarsdale label. "Orchlabreapourmoi" is a mix of several unmentionable Climax, stolen and solo sources. "Drift Away" was composed for a short film by Jean Julien Pous called…Drift Away. This is a slight re-working of the original composition. Most of these pieces were created for use in live performances."

The tape will not be released for a couple months. This will be the public's first chance to hear it. After that we will hear tapes of upcoming Alterity 101 contributors past works with a few surprises... Kurt told me he's bringing a bunch of cassette decks, things should get weird!

TUNE IN at 8pm this Sunday, Jan 13 for the mind bender!

Review: Red Math, Innercity, and Further Records

"Obsolete Systems" by Red Math opens with a propulsive Kosmische push. Chirping synths and driving rhythms propel this one forward. The next track slows it down and brings, alternatively, haunting and menacing synthscapes, some quite abstract. As side one reveals itself, the sonic landscape diversifies immenseley, the common ground being daring and progressive synthesis. I love this for the same reasons I love Gift Tapes, Draft Tapes, and Spectrum Spools, all labels which share a vision of exploratory synth based sound art. From crackles and drones to loops and stuttering rhythms, Red Math take the listener on a heady ride from the grooves to the cosmos. Side one gets more and more abstract until it ends all too soon. Side two begins with a sonar-like pulse, which is slowly embellished with ancillary sounds and details, conjuring the ambience of an underwater submarine. After a murky swim through more deep, subterranean electronics, the pace picks up, wild screeches and whoops swirl hazily, and the ground shifts again. Very, very compelling stuff.

Another new release on Further, "A Lion's Baptism" by Innercity roars out the gate with a swirling starry haze of blissful electronics, dense, layered and absorbing. This gives way to robotic rhythms which create a slightly industrial mood, cold and entrancing.Finally, shuddering walls of noise surge from the speakers. Like Red Math, Innercity do not settle on a given mood or motif, but carry the listener Further.

Which brings us back to Further Records. I have, for some time now, been on a synth kick, exploring this resurgent area of sound art. But somehow I was unaware of this local label which is fearlessly exposing some fine works of this nature. And for once, everything works. I love the label name, the band names, the album titles, the cover art, the content.  Further sent me these test pressings for review when I told them I only review physical formats, and I am so enchanted by them I will be ordering official pressings with the full cover art forthwith. Further, as best I can tell, is a Kirkland based label run by Chloe Harris, who performs and records under the name Raica with Dick Chambers. Rejoice, Seattle!

Investigate Further here: http://furtherrecords.org/music

Innercity blog here: http://innercitydiscography.blogspot.com/

Review: Holy Family "A Rising Tide Of Halos" cs (Sanity Muffin Limited Tapes)

     Having had the pleasure of finally seeing one of my musical heroes, Lawrence English, perform live at Seattle's recent Substrata 1.2 festival, I was thrilled to see that he had a tape release available at the merch table. Holy Family is a collaborative project between Lawrence and John Chantler. John describes the tape as " Fairly punishing synth action recorded mostly when I was down in Australia in 2010/11 after our tour there with Tujiko Noriko. Part of one track also recorded at Noriko’s place in Paris in April 2010." It is awesome that these guys still release "kult" tapes on small regional labels like the Oakland based Sanity Muffin. True integrity!
     A wavering drone slowly morphs into being as strange chirps fade in and out. The build develops quickly as a dark mood predominates. There is an almost breath-like back and forth to the intertwining sounds as they wrap around one another again and again until the piece abruptly ends. Track two starts even more aggressively, with a higher pitched drone quickly adorned by majestic swells of bass which enfold it. The whole of side A continues this bleak yet shining duet, and is completely absorbing.
     Side B explores similar territory, but investigates new strategies as it unfolds. We move into coal black electronics and a deepening sense of menace.  A truly industrial mood is created as electronic buzzings come and go across the field of drone, subtle changes making startling transformations. The background electronics shriek higher and higher, then drop out suddenly, leaving the droning center to slowly slowly thicken and decay.

John Chantler's work may be found here: http://inventingzero.net/home/

Lawrence English's wonderful Room 40 label may be found here: http://room40.org/site/

Sanity Muffin Tapes are available here: http://www.sanitymuffin.com/

   

Review: Microscopic Suffering, Egregor, Blasphm, Dried Up Corpse At The Highline

     Thursday night at the Highline featured a lineup hosted by Threat.  Threat has spent years showcasing challenging and aggressive avant garde and industrial sounds in Seattle and is an incredible cultural resource. Tonights bill leaned heavily to the extreme and noisy side of things.
     Microscopic Suffering opened with their signature blend of gothic mood, industrial sturm und drang and churning tribalistic noise. Their tracks were meticulously composed and choreographed with heavy drum machine transitions. This is one of Seattle's best bands, and the precision and power of their performance is astounding. Egregor was sheer noise, but nuanced by constantly morphing forms and overlapping motifs. Very loud, very, very good! Blasphm is another project that constantly refines his craft. This project by Demian Johnston may exhibit some of his best work yet. Super heavy...Dried Up Corpse is the solo project of Stan Reed (Blue Sabbath Black Cheer and Broken Penis Orchestra) and is always overwhelming. As usual with DUC, we got a frighteningly savage and loud assault which was abbreviated in length and ceased abruptly, leaving one feeling like they had just been run over by a bus (but in a good way).
     This show also served as a release party for a split cassette by Egregor and Blasphm on the incredible Hanged Man label. A beautiful edition of "50 hand-numbered copies include unique, individual inserts, hand-stamped cassettes and are wrapped in vetiver scented jute twine. "  If you missed this show you can get it here (if you're fast on the trigger): http://hangedman.bandcamp.com/releases

     The Highline is a great venue, playing host to many great metal/hardcore/doom and noise shows. Check it out if you haven't.

Egregor's scorched earth assault.

The Highline

Blasphm!

Dried Up Corpse

Review: Midday Veil "Integratron" cs (Translinguistic Other Records cat: TLO10)

 Integratron starts with a mesmerizing track called "Antigravity". It begins with a subliminal drone that develops so slowly it provokes one to reach for the volume knob. This drone gradually grows, joined by a hypnotic tribal rhythm that slowly becomes more insistent.  Haunted sounds that could be vocals or synths tease at the corners, rising almost imperceptibly as the whole thing gathers steam.  The drums increase like an accelerating heartbeat as the piece escalates the tempo. Cymbals crash, toms rattle, and an undercurrent of menace ensues. The ritual reaches its peak as the percussion crescendos and gently fades. "Rejuvenation" follows logically from this arresting opener and continues to evoke pagan mysticism and motorik trance for the rest of side A. Drummer Chris Pollina shines on this side as he pummels away, leading a funeral march through a cyclone of whirling synthesis.
     Side B consists of a single 23 minute long track, "Time Travel." Opening with a chiaroscuro sound palette, our travel through time is an uncertain one, at best. Synthesizers chirp like evil sparrows which recede into the shadows. Clanks and rattles conjure some unseen activity of a possibly sinister nature. This is really great, atmospheric stuff that brings to mind comparisons with classic industrial underground stuff like Sterile Record's early tapes or Nekrophile Records act Zero Kama. The drones get deeper and faster as the time machine whirls, abstract drumming providing a silver filigree around its dark mass.  At the end of this journey we are set back down on terra firma, and released with a hushed fadeout.
     Midday Veil are at their best when they pursue more abstract strategies like this, and I count this as one of their finest releases in a so far dud free catalog. They are also at their best in the live setting so if you haven't seen them yet, do so. If you are not from Seattle, you may be in luck. MV will be touring the west coast in October, spreading their lysergic wings over our unsuspecting neighbors.

Get this tape HERE (while it lasts):  http://records.translinguisticother.com/

A Weekend Of Krautrock, Psychedelia And Dub

     Friday, 7.27.12. Incredible show hosted by the Rat and Raven and booked by Michelle "Mama Casserole" of Comet Tavern booking fame. This tribute to krautrock featured the talents of heavy hitters such as Blue Light Curtain, Midday Veil, Terminal Fuzz Terror, Jupe Jupe, DJ Veins and Explorateur, and a dude from the Low Hums (doing a cover of "It's a Rainy Day (Sunshine Girl)" to open the show).  Films were projected on the walls, depicting live concert footage by Can, Amon Duul, Faust, etc, and German themed specials rolled out of the kitchen all night long. Perhaps the height of the night was BLC's cover of "Trance Europe Express" by Kraftwerk, just stunning...
     An amazing night of undisputed talent should have drawn a much larger crowd. Heed my words, people, Michelle will be doing this again, and you should be sure not to miss the next installment.
     Saturday, 7.28.12,  the trip continued as Dull Knife and Peaking Lights took the stage at Barboza, beneath Neumoes. This was my first visit to this newish venue and I was favorably impressed. Small but not cramped, intimate and appropriately lit for a drone dub excursion into otherworldly states.
     Dull Knife played what may be the best set I have ever seen them do, trading deep, reverbed drones and hazed out ritualistic vocals, at times reminding me of Ain Soph. The set built layer upon layer of sounds, bass and treble struggling for hegemony, and slowly subsided after reaching peak trance mode.  Truly stunning sounds from these local treasures.
     Peaking Lights opened with a compelling, head nodding track that sounded like nothing so much as a mash-up of Throbbing Gristle and Lee Perry, dark, dubby, and irresistible. The quality dropped a little after this, and sound problems complicated things, but as much as I prefer their earlier, more drone oriented work, this was a pretty stellar performance from these cats.

Setting the tone...

Low Hums dude kills it with a one man band Faust cover.

Deep crates of heady vibes From Dave and Valerie.

"Kraftwerk"

Jupe Jupe. These Punks and skins nailed it.

More "Kraftwerk"

Not much light at Barboza, but Dull Knife seem comfortable in the dark...